@nahc october 2011

A Monthly Publication for Native American Health Center Employees

Vol. 4, Issue 10 — October 2011

In this issue:

⇒ NAHC Pow Wow…………....……..………….....… Page 1

⇒ Farewell to Greg Harmon, AEO…………..…….. Page 2

⇒ HR BUZZ: Retirement Seminar………………..…Page 3

⇒ NAHC Upcoming Events…...…………………..…. Page 3

⇒ Employee Spotlight: Eulalia Valerio…..............Page 4

⇒ Employee Anniversaries………………….….…….Page 4

⇒ New Faces at NAHC…………………………………Page 4

⇒ Safety Corner: NAHC Evacuation Plan……...….Page 5

Employee Spotlight:

Eulalia Valerio Page 3

2011 NAHC Pow Wow

Committee hard at work! Page 1

2011 NAHC Pow Wow

By: Catherine A. Marin-Wisdom

NAHC held their 6th Annual Pow Wow on Saturday, September 17th at Burrell Field in San

Leandro, California. It was a sunny gorgeous day. We had four drums, great singing, several vendors, many dancers and was well attended. Thank you to all who sponsored, volunteered, and participated. Thank you to our wonderful committee, and our head staff for making this years pow wow an enjoyable one!

(Photos provided by Lee Leon and Cathy Marin-Wisdom)



NAHC Wishes a Warm Farewell to Greg Harmon, AEO By Sandra Tavel, Grants & Contracts Administrator September 22, 2011 will mark 21 years and nine months of work at NAHC for Greg Harmon, Assistant Executive Officer. Throughout Greg’s tenure, he has helped lay the foundation for the evolution of NAHC. The legacy began with a humble building containing a handful of employees on 56 Julian Avenue in San Francisco in 1972 that expanded to a larger Oakland site in the 1980s. The agency had just over 30 employees in 1990 when Greg first started. NAHC now has eleven sites in three counties and 227 employees. One of many stories about Greg that Marty has told is of a Tony Lama boot box that served as Greg’s briefcase for several months (until it broke down) during NAHC’s leaner times. When asked about the nature of grants & contracts work, Greg will say, “it’s not hard; but it’s very time consuming.” Greg does what many people cannot: handle important, often subtle details that carry serious financial implications in a structured, orga-nized, aesthetically pleasing and timely manner. Armed with a calendar, notepad already containing to-do items, many multi-colored highlighters, and his impeccable files, Greg is the man behind the scenes. His work makes the agency’s grant funding totaling almost $14,000,000, run smoothly. He meets with people regularly in person; calls them; jokes with them; lunches with them—all while helping to keep the funding steady to meet and exceed compliance rules with flying colors. Lillawa and I began to worry as Greg’s departure date inched closer: who would help us manage all the dates and details as seamlessly as Greg? I approached him: what is your secret? He looked at me and said, “When you’ve been doing this for so many years, it’s just all in your head. There’s no magic. No secrets.” When I first started work at NAHC five years ago as Susan Jamerson’s assistant, I went to pick up my keys on a Friday morning—Greg & Susan’s regular, weekly meeting time. I was met with an extremely handsome and well put together man with the twinkle of many jokes to come in his eye. I knew that we would be fast friends. Since then, Greg has taught me and many other grant administrators everything we know. Greg grew up in rural Delaware on a farm within a few miles of his extended family. He helped plow fields; raise animals; and attended college to become a school teacher. After teaching the fourth grade on the East Coast in the Indian River School Dis-trict, he moved to San Francisco in 1975 and has worked for the American Indian community ever since. His tribe, Nanticoke, has a fascinating and unique history that he shares with us from time to time telling animated and meaningful stories. There’s a playful formality about Greg that will stick with me forever. The way he speaks. His stories. His jokes. His sayings and ges-tures. The way he lovingly takes care of his plants, honors their lives, and emails friends pictures of his poinsettia and orchid flowers. The way he cares about working in a beautiful and clean space. He helped me organize and decorate my office, “There. Now it looks like you care.” When I experienced obstacles with work, he took time to remind me of the value of rela-tionships between people, “You need to play more. To joke more. Be less serious, and do your work with others in a playful way.” Greg also taught me the value of seeing things from other perspectives. Greg is a force. A quiet, understated yet very strong influence built into the very fiber of this organization, and one that will stay with us forever. We thank Greg. For his work. His friendships. His stories. His sense of humor. His timeliness and precision. And his uncanny way of managing all that information beautifully for so long without missing a beat. We can only hope to con-tinue that precision and use the lessons he gave us. We wish him a warm farewell and a thank you that cannot really be put into words. As a coworker said--he is a health center jewel. We will miss you dearly, Mr. Harmon. And we will remember you fondly, always. Thank you for everything!

HR Buzz:

HR Buzz, Employee Retirement Workshop By: Natalie Aguilera, Director of Human Resources

On September 28, 2011, NAHC hosted its first retirement workshop at the Friendship House Association of American Indians in San Francisco.

The challenges that today’s pre-retirement employee’s face is far more complex than for previous generations. Planning for the transition is not natural or easy for most. To assist employees who are preparing for retirement, NAHC secured presenters to discuss the complex nature of the retirement process. Additionally, the presenters provided information so staff are knowledgeable to make sound decisions as they approach retirement.

NAHC was fortunate to secure presenters who spoke on the following topics:

• Social Security Administration Overview

• Kaiser medical options at the time of retirement

HICAP( Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program), program that assists individuals with navigating the Medicare system ING financial options at the time of retirement Estate planning, living trusts and wills Financial, insurance and long-term care advice UNUM Life Insurance benefits and portability options at the time of retirement

The retirement workshop was informative for the participants and as one participant noted the workshop “was wonderful and very, very helpful.”

NAHC values its staff who have worked at NAHC for many years and for some working into their retirement years. NAHC looks forward to holding future retirement workshops.

If you would like more information, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]



Attention Staff: Do you want to contribute to @NAHC?? If you have an article, suggestion, or comment about

future newsletters, please contact Cathy Wisdom at 510-434-5481 or via email: [email protected]

NAHC Wishes you and your

family a safe and happy Halloween!

And REMEMBER………..



Chris Weahunt Nutrition/Fitness 10/23/1995 (16 Years)

Regina Roman Medical Oakland 10/01/2001 (10 Years)

Chirag Patel FCGC

10/22/2001 (10 Years)

Shamika Dokes-Brown

Medical Oakland 10/25/2002 (9 Years)

Assaf Jaffe FCGC 10/27/2003 (8 Years)

Tahnee Camacho FCGC 10/27/2003 (8 Years)

Rochelle Hayes Medical SF 10/16/2006 (5 Years)

Maria Verde Dental SF 10/29/2007 (4 Years)

Sue Zhou Fiscal 10/13/2008 (3 Year)

Sam Nielsen Maintenance SF 10/28/2008 (3 Years)

Lydia Mejia Billing 10/29/2009 (2 Years)

Joanna Ruthenberg

Medical Oakland 10/26/2009 (2 Years)

Shayla Melton Dental Oakland 10/09/2009 (2 Years)

Monica Barkus Medical SF 10/26/2010 (1 Year)

Marisa Kwock Medical SF 10/18/2010 (1 Year)

October Employment Anniversaries Employee spotlight: Eulalia Valerio, NAHC SF

By Catherine A. Marin-Wisdom, Administrative Officer

Tribe: Navajo, Apache, Cherokee and Aztec

Title: Director of Projects and Evaluation.

Site/Department: Dental Department, San Francisco Clinic.

How long have you worked @ NAHC? 10 Years.

Tell us a little about your job: I’m only as successful as my team! I enjoy being someone who encourages the staff and being a part of helping with new projects and watching them come to life. Although I’m not in direct clinical care, I take pride in knowing that I participate in helping to keep my community healthy.

What is the most enjoyable part about your job? Being able to come to work every morning surrounded by our Native American community members, co workers and friends. I sometimes mistakenly call work HOME and meaning it!

What do you do to relax on the weekends? Hang out with Family and friends and I love taking my children to Pow Wows.

What is your ideal vacation? Sleeping in, not rushing, and enjoying culture somewhere! I hope to make it to Ireland or Australia one day.

What three things would you take on a deserted island? Facebook, my children and water.

New Faces @NAHC:

Caitlin Asma Registered Nurse, Jesuit Volunteer

Jordan Paul Program Assistant

FCGC

Kehinde Apara Program Manager Health Educator Medical School

Based Health Care

Sarwang Parikh Therapist Mental Health Intern Medical School Based Health Care

Eulalia and her beautiful children Anthony, Cetanzi, Amirah, and Tai’ah.



Safety Corner Evacuation By: Amadene Castillo

I. The decision to evacuate a building will be made by the Fire or Police Department, the Executive Director, NAHC administration, other official in charge at the time, or individuals listed below:

Seven Directions Building – ED/Emergency Prep Coordinator/CEO Human Services Building – WIC Program Director/Emergency Prep Coordinator/CEO Healthy Nations Wellness Center – Phys. Wellness Director Administration – Admin Reception

II. If a fire or other disaster requires the evacuation of patients and staff, the Executive Director designee is in charge of coordinating the Health Center evacuation.

III. Evacuation Maps outlining safe routes of ex are located throughout each Health Center. All staff members should familiarize themselves with the maps, their location, and their specific staff responsibilities.

IV. Safety Leaders shall use the following evacuation procedures: A. Move patients who are closest to the danger toward the nearest and safest exit first. B. Patients, whether in danger or not, should be moved in the following order, beginning near the danger area:

1. Ambulatory (no assistive device and walker users) 2. Non-ambulatory (carry, wheelchair, stretcher or gurney).

C. First, move ambulatory patients toward and out the nearest and safest exit. A staff person should accompany them. Do not leave ambulatory patients without guidance. Next, move non-ambulatory patients toward and out the nearest or safest exit.

D. A staff person should act as doorway monitor in each Health Center area for each clinic floor to prevent doubling back. E. Patients and staff evacuated will be assembled in the following collection areas, depending on the door from which they

were evacuated or the safest area from the danger point. ◊ Corner of 31st & International Blvd. , across the street from the 7Directions Clinic

◊ Corner of 31st & International Blvd., across the street from the Human Services Bldg.

◊ San Francisco: corner of 17th and Capp St.

F. At least one healthcare worker or volunteer will stay with patients at the collection areas and use the Appointment List to check and make sure all patients are accounted for.

G. Safety leaders in clinical areas are responsible for bringing the Appointment List out of the building; doing a head count; and recording where patients have been transferred if they do not re-enter the facility.

H. A staff person will remain with patients until authorization to re-enter the facility I. All disciplines should communicate with each other to assure all patients have been evacuated and returned to the Health

Center when re-entry is allowed. J. Executive Director should inform fire department or other emergency responders if any patients or staff is unaccounted for. K. Staff should direct all media requests for information about the situation or condition of patients/staff to the Executive

Director. Staff should not provide information to reporters unless specifically directed to do so by the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

RN Clinic Manager A. Oversees evacuation of patients and staff from clinic area according to Health Center evacuation plan. B. After patients and staff have been evacuated, assigns staff to act as doorway monitor at the clinic door to prevent doubling

back. C. Provides continuing nursing care as far as possible and practical. D. Safeguards patients under all conditions. E. Ensures identification of patients during evacuation. F. Performs other duties as directed by Manager, Medical Provider or official in charge. G. In the absence of the Manager, assures that all staff procedures in this policy have

been executed.

Medical Unit Leader A. Establish safe and protected triage area as needed. B. Triage and stabilize if possible any ill or injured participant and staff. C. Arrange transport to ER or other medical facilities as needed.

@nahc october 2011

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